A Curious Pamphlet.

Here I hardly knoAV IIOAV to dross my language in a garb suitable to the attention of a true mason , and I must either extinguish the rays of truth , or openly declare , hoAvever unseemly such a declaration may be , that inattention frequently arises from

a desire to render the list of visitors more numerous , and to increase the bill of a publican or tavern keeper , Avhose ideas are capable of no expansion , but that Avbich is produced by the intoxication of the sensesand the profit produced by nocturnal

, revels , Avbich though they may be suitable enough on some occasions , by having been long sanctioned by custom , proceed wholly from appetite , and are no attendants on masonic meetings ; masons are to enjoy refreshment the temperature of that

refreshment gives pleasure to the craft , and profit to tho matter . I fancy I shall not escape sarcasm for this sort of rigid doctrine , but let it bo considered that my particular application is to Avhat are called working lodges .

Upon this foundation I maintain my principles , that masonry and excess are terms of such material distinction , that no reasoning can reconcile their union upon

tho basis of propriety , and those Avho attempt to effect so unnatural a purpose , are a disgrace to the fraternity . To lodges of ease , Avho chuso to dispense Avith the constant duties Avbich should regularl y be attended to , I am content they should

enjoy the interim Avbich passes betAveen their openinig and their closing , with that jocularity A \ hich Avould become men hi any any other place ; but let uniformity prevail , nor utter that Avith your lips AA'hich the conduct of the evening shall violate : as

much caution should bo used among our associates in masonry , as ought to be attended to Avith those about to be introduced into the art , and AA as the first more critically attended to , we should not invest so many with the title of brother , and so

soon bo ashamed of our kindred . Men Avho really mean to link themselves together by an indissoluble tio of sincere affection and desire to promote the interest , and rejoice at tho welfare of each other , will I am certainbo very cautious in forming their

, connexions , and establishing their friendships ; and as common civility , as well as established formality , will not permit us to reject the company of a brother AVIIO duly proves himself so , by correcting tho

abuse I at first allude to , AA e shall bo the less likely to be intruded upon by 0110 whose visit may be disagreeable . Should a visitor , when called upon to prove his title to the name of brother , ansAver , " It islong since I was made amason , and I really

am at a 'loss , " I would reject him , as bis regard must be very slender indeed for a brotherhood , Avho cannot produce one family token of his relationshi p , or recollect a single ornament in the family mansion of Iiis ancestors ; but so liberal are some

of us in admitting doubtful claims , that the true principles Avhicli ought ever , and can only give a proper distinction to the craft , are forgotten in favour of a mistaken civility to strangers . —Policy , the local exigence of the lodge , or any other fancied

necessity , cannot apologize for a breach of decorum among masons ; uniformity , regularity , and exact propriety , unite their efforts in our happy distinction , and were our numbers reduced so that but seven existed upon the whole globethe union

, can only be compleat by the sacred observance of our principles , There is a custom prevails in many lodges , and by some is established as a byo

or extra UAV , that if any person under the description of a visitor , shall become doubtful on his examination , rather than his visit shall be rejected , the doubt shall be purged by the administration of certain ceremonies , by Avbich his present suspicious appearance shall be done awayand

, his future integrity be secured : hoAv does this accord Avith any one principle upon which masonry is founded ? or IIOAV does it operate to establish truth , integrity , or virtue !—Will the man who is mean enough to intrude himself upon the

serious meeting of the fraternity as a brother , being only a base pretender , become more Avorthy by the application of any ceremonial we can adopt ? No . He Avho has so far set at nought the princip les of honour as to attempt so gross an

imposition , is but a Avorthless object , and reformation has but little to hope for in his amendment . I must here expect to meet many objections on the ground of its being rude and uncharacteristic , either too scrupulously to doubt the integrity

, or hastil y reject the good intention of a visitor , and again must I repeat my former observation on this subject . The general good requires a strict observance